Rolling mill



F. J. WOOD ROLLING MILL July 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1947 Y INVENTOR. PA/VKJ WOOD 4 TTOR/VEYJ July 1, 1952 F. J. WOOD 2,601,794

' ROLLING MILL Filed July 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M ZZ. L9

INVENTOR. FRANK J, WOOD Ww/M/ 4 TTOQNEYS y 1, 1952 F. J.WOOD 2,601,794

ROLLING MILL Filed July 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q I i \3. 0 19a ,19b

INVENTOR. FRANK J W0 00 BY Mural/$4M F. J. WOOD ROLLING MILL July 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1947 JNVENTOR. F24 NA/ J: wooo Patented J y 1952 OFFICE ROLLING MILL Frank J. Wood, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor to Erwin Loewy, New'York, N. Y.

Application July 18, 1947, Serial Nb. 761,892

4 Claims. (Cl. 80-55) This invention relates to rolling mills and particularly to an improved arrangement whereby a plurality of rolls and bearings may be inserted and removed as a unit from the mill, the rolls and bearings being assembled exteriorly of the mill so that the rolls and bearings may be inserted into the mill stand as an assembled unit and a minimum of time lost in the changing operation. i

In" rollingmill operation, the rolls frequently must be changed for various reasons, such as where various shapes are rolled which require substitution of rolls, or where repairs to the rolls must be made. In addition, various adjustments must be made to the rolls relative to each other, both axially and vertically.

Previously, the roll bearings and other elements associated therewith have been insertible and removable individually, requiring many op erations in roll changing. A rolling mill stand normally has roll housings at each end comprising a pair of uprights defining a window serving as the support or receptacle for the roll bearings. In the type of roll housing in which the present invention especially is adapted for use, the roll housing uprights have a removable cap, the cap normally carrying suitable screw-down or vertical adjusting means. Previously, each time the rolls have been removed for any purpose, a substantially complete readjustment of the rolls and bearings relative to each other and the mill housings normally has been required.

One of the objects of the present invention is to simplify the manner and materially reduce the time in which a roll assembly can be removed, changed, and adjusted, whereby the loss in productive time of the mill due to the changing is reducedto a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to make possible the adjustment of the rolls and bearings as units before being inserted into the rolling mill housings.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of roll assembly carrier frames or yokes in which the rolls and roll bearings can be assembled and adjusted outside of the rolling mill, the assembled carrier frames being connected together and inserted as units through the top of the mill housings with the housing caps removed.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in a three-high rolling mill stand wherein the center roll is carried in a fixed vertical position in the mill housings and the outer rolls adjusted relative thereto.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, roll assembly carrier frames are provided which can be connected together and lifted from the mill housings or inserted therein as units. Previous to insertion in the mill housings, the rolls and roll bearings can be assembled in each of the carrier frames and adjusted axially therein so that after the carrier frames are in the mill housings, the center carrier frame can be fastenedin a fixed location in the housings and arranged so that it Will be engaged by lugs on the cradle which extend under the lower carrier frame. In this manner, when the cradle is lifted, the lower carrier frame will be lifted therewith. Riders or roll guide bearings are provided for the center roll so as to clamp the roll and roll chocks or bearings in a predetermined vertical position, said riders having verti cally adjustable devices to adjust the verticalpressure of said center roll on the roll bearings. Each of the carrier frames has a flange extend ing beyond the window housings so thatthe flanges can beclamped longitudinally relative to the housings, suitable adjusting means being provided for this purpose similar to that disclosed in applicants copending' application Serial No.

743,345 filedApril 23, 1947.

In atwo-piece roll bearing arrangement, the 7 term chock is used herein to mean the hearing half against which pressure is exerted when material is being rolled. The term roll guide bearing is used herein in conjunction with twopart bearings to designate the bearings half opposite the roll chocks.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary. f

Fig. l'is an end elevation.

Fig. 2 is'a front view of the rolling mill with the left portion thereof in section taken generally along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the screw-down mechanism at the top rightportion being shown in section. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cradle for supporting the middle roll and engaging the lower roll carrier.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of Fig. 1 with the bearing or rider bearing, although it is to be understood that other types of bearings can .be employed, such as roller bearings. Upper roll [0 has roll chocks Ila, and III) with anti-friction? metal liners l2 engaging the roll necks J3 at-each r end of said roll. Upper roll .guide bearings 14 are provided having anti-friction liners l5. Said roll guide bearings are urged upwardly by me'a'ns of springs l6 supported in the center roll riders H, there being a center roll rider provided :at each endof the mill, said riders being positioned vertically in the bearings ina manner described hereafter.

Center roll 18 is carried in center rollcho'cks 19a and [922 having anti-friction liners 2ll,said

anti-friction liners supporting the center roll -necks-2l.

Thechocks 19 are adjustablymounted in center roll assembly carrier'cradle zi'in-a mannerwhich will be discussed at a later point. The

lower roll 23 has lower'rollnecks 24 thereof supported in lower roll chocks 25a and 251), said lower roll chocks 25a and 25b being mounted in the .lowersroll assembly carrier frame 26.

The mill stand has apair of housings '60 and 6| (Figs. 1, 2) ,eachof said housings having .up-

:rights '2"! and .28, each of said uprights '21 and 28 defining a housingwindow 29 therebetween. The uprights aremounted on .the'mill stand base 30 in a wellknown manner. Cap 3| is removably held by cap bolts 32 tohousing uprights 21 and -28. The cap can beprovided with screw-downs 33, said screw-downs being operable separately :by-suitable'driving mechanism to raise and lower the screw-down pads 34 (Fig. 1), said pads or screw-downs contacting the upper surface of upper roll assembly carrier frame 35. The lower rollassembly carrier frame 26 may be similarly supported by the lower adjustablescrews 36 so as to vertically adjust the position of the lower carrier frame 26 in the housings.

Upper roll assembly carrierlframe has bolts 31 (Figs. 1, 4, 5) adjustably engaging the chocks l lb-(Fig. 2). Screws 38 are provided for holding the'left-hand chock I la, in theroll assembly car- 7 the holding bolts 42', it :being apparent that the vertical position of the carrier frame 35'can be made vertically adjustable relative to the housing. Said holding bolts 42 maybe arranged as shown with :a pair of adjustable nuts thereon between 1 which the flange is held, so as toadjustably position the .roll assembly carrier frame longitudinally or axially of the roll housings.

The center roll carrier frame 62 is made integral with the center .roll cradle 22, although other means of construction can be employed. The legs 43 of said cradle rest on the horizontal housing surface 44 so as to vertically position the cradle 22 relative to the housing.

Keeper plates 45 are provided with suitable bolts so as to clamp the flange of carrier frame 62 in position in the housings. Thus, it is seen that the center roll i8 is positioned vertically by the cradle 22, said cradle havingga.rollassembly carrier frame BZintegraI-thereWith with-roll chock 19a fastened thereto at the left end by bolts 4i and chock l9b adjustably positioned longitudi- --nally-of the carrier by adjustable bolts 41.

' -Riders l1 slip into the windows 29 of each of :th'er oll housings' and carry the anti-friction rider b earings- Ml.

The vertical position of the riders can-be adjusted by means of the wedge arrange- "ment 49, said wedge arrangement having a movable wedge mating with a surface 5| at the upper end of said riders. The wedges 50 are adjustable'by means of wedge'adjustingboltsfl in a well known manner. ,-By adjustment of the wedges, the vertical position of the ridersllrelative to the center roll l8 can be changed and "thus govern 'thevertical pressure of the rider bearings- 18 on the centerroll necks 2| of thecenter roll [8. As mentionedpreviously, the riders I1 also serve as supports for the springs [6 which urge the upper roll guide bearings upwardly and thus position the upper roll against the upper roll chocksli at alltirnes. The legs 43 of the cradle-may be supported-on a wedge arrangement (not shown) similar to wedges' l-fl so asto-ad-just the vertical position of the'center roll,-if-desired.

Thelower roll 23 is carried in roll-chockslBa and 25b in the lower roll'assembly'carrier frame 25. The left lower'roll-chock 25a (Fig.2) :is held in place by bolts-53 and the right roll chock 25b is adjustably positionedlongitudinally of theadjustingbolts54 in a manner similar to the other carriers. The cradle le s -43 straddle the lower roll necks GSand roll chocks 25a'and'25b. The lower roll "assembly ca'rrier frame '26 has flanges 25a similar to the upper assembly carrier frame and can beclamped to the housing uprights in the samernanner.

Connecting links -63 are provided to engage pinstkand 65 locatedon the riders ll and'cradle 22, respectively, a setof pins and links being provided at each corner of the cradle 22w When it is desired to remove or insert the-roll assemblies, links 63 are put into position on their pins and thus will connect together the riders-and upper roll assembly with the center and lower rolls. It is apparent that various types of links and fastening means may be-employed.

Thelegs 43 of the center roll cradle have extensions 66 projecting underneath the lower r'o'll carrier frame 26. In the position of the lower frameshown in Fig. 2, the elevating screws have raised the lower roll assembly carrier frame '26 upwardly from the extensions 66. When the roll assembly is lifted upwardly, extensions 66 will contact the lower roll carrier frame 26"ai1d lift it therewith.

When it is desired-to remove the rolls from the roll housings, cap '3! is first removed after the nuts or'bolts '32 have been disengaged. The links 53 are put into position on each corner of the center roll carrier and the riders. The keeper plates '45 are loosened or removed and "the'up'per carrier holding bolts 42 and the lower carrier holdingbolts 67 are loosened. A crane having hooks 69 then can grasp and lift upwardly the four lifting lugs 68 at the top of the riders ll.

As the asse'mblyis' lifted, it is seenth'at the upper roll assembly and carrier frame will be supported by the riders I! through springs-.16 and will be lifted therewith. Links 63 will cause the cradle 22 and center roll I}; to be lifted with the riders. Extensions 66 will contact the lower roll carrier frame :26 and lift the lowerrolland carrier frame with ,the entire assembly-@Figs 4 shows the assembly partially lifted from; the housings; .'After being lifted from the housings, the assembly can be taken to a point away from the rolling mill and the rolls replaced and adjusted as desired. The new rolls or bearings can be adjusted relative to each of the carrier frames and then the carrier frames reassembled.

When it is desired to replace the rolls, the as-- sembly is connected together and reassembled in the roll housings in the reverse manner from that in which it was lifted. After the center roll is replaced, the keeper plates 45 are used to clamp the center frame in position. The cap 3| is then replaced and the upper and lower carrier frames then suitably adjusted by means of the screwdowns and elevating screws and then the holding bolts 65 and 6! tightened. The riders are then positioned by means of wedges 49 so as to cause the rider bearings to exert the desired pressure on the center roll bearin necks to properly position the center roll. It is evident that the upper and lower carrier frames can be adjusted longitudinally of the roll housings so that the upper and lower rolls will have the correct relative positions relative to the center roll.

Cradle 22 is shown in Fig. 3 with the center roll chocks ifia and i9?) and the lower roll assembly carrier frame and roll chocks indicated in position in dot-dash lines to show the relative unit longitudinally positioning said bearing elements relative to its carrier frame, rolls carried by said bearing elements in each of said carrier frames and adjustably positioned positively longitudinally therein by said bearing elements, and con nections between said separate carrier frames joining said frames together for removal from and insertion in the mill housing as a unit ing elements ineach of said carrier frames and location of the parts. The struts 62a serve to connect together the two end portions of the cradle.

The invention described herein provides a means of assembling and disassembling the parts of a rolling mill so as to facilitate adjustment and replacement of the various parts. The details of construction shown can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. In a horizontal three-high rolling mill having a pair of housings with removable cap portions, an integral upper roll assembly carrier frame, an integral center roll assembly carrier frame and support therefor, a lower roll assembly carrier frame, roll bearing elements mounted at each end of each of said carrier frames, said carrier frames having bearing element supporting portions adjacent the ends thereof, means for longitudinally adjusting said bearing elements in said frames, rolls carried by said bearing elements in each of said carrier frames and positively positioned therein by said bearing elements, a center roll rider bearing means adjustably mounted in said housing and connectable therewith for holding said center roll in its supporting bearings, connections between said rider bearings and said upper roll carrier frame, said center roll support having legs straddling said lower roll carrier frame and having means adapted to connect said support with said lower carrier frame during insertion and removal of said assembly relative to said housings, and means to connect said center roll rider bearing means with said center roll carrier frame and support, so that said carrier frames and roll assemblies can be removed and inserted relative to positioned longitudinally in said frame by said bearing elements, center roll rider bearing means mounted in the windows of each housing, means to position said center roll rider bearing means in said housings for holding said center roll in a fixed position relative thereto, spring suping means and said center roller assembly carrier frame, and means to connect a lifting apparatus with said rider bearing means whereby said roll assembly can be removed and inserted relative to said housings as a unit.

4. In a three-high rolling mill having a pair of housings, an integral upper roll assembly carrier frame, an integral center roll assembly carrier frame having legs depending from said center roll carrier frame adapted to straddle a lower roll assembly carrier frame, an integral lower roll assembly carrier frame, each of said carrier frames having roll bearing element carrying portions adjacent each end thereof, roll bearing elements mounted in each of said carrier roll bearing element carrying portions and rolls carried by said bearing elements, adjustable roll bearing element longitudinal positioning means. positively adjustably positioning a roll relative to its carrier frame, center roll rider elements mounted in said housings for said center roll, means conecting said center roll in position in said housings, means adjustably positioning said upper and lower roll assembly carrier frames longiitudinally relative to said housings, removable links connecting said center roll rider elements to said center roll assembly carrier frame, means connecting said center carrier frame with said lower roll carrier frame, and spring means in- 7 terconnecting said-center r011 rider elements and said upper rollessembly carrierframe, whereby said carrier frames, rolls, and bearings can be inserted and removed as a unit from-said housings.

FRANK J. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PAYIENTS Number Number Name Date Kling Aug. 4, 1936 Peterson Apr. 1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Aug. 1, 1935 Great Britain 'Aug. 11, 1937 

